Follow along our adventure as we make the transition from corporate city life to the world of natural farming. Each day brings a new experience and brings us to a deeper understanding about the life and spirit that made America great.
At our farm we do our best to give the animals we raise a natural, free, happy, stressfree lifestyle. Our mission is to learn and share how to manage a farming operation that is both profitable and humane.

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Sunday, February 9, 2014

Chick Days Are Here!

We are very happy to announce that with the arrival of February, CHICK DAYS are here! Little Sprouts is now hatching our unique chicks for you! Our chicks are unlike any others you can find, our own mix of heritage breeds and traits. Every chick will be different, like a unique fingerprint. We have found these mixed breeds to be hardier, healthier, and still as productive as commercial breeds. Plus they are a joy to watch!

Why hatch through Little Sprouts?

Hatching with us means that you have the opportunity to be involved in the process beginning to finish., You will:

Pick the individual eggs and / or parent flocks of your chicks

Participate in egg candling at 1 week, and 2 weeks

Learn about the hatching process

Locally bred birds for better Oregon weather tolerance

Mixed breed birds with vigor not possible from purebred birds.

Parents raised locally on organic non-gmo, soy free feeds

The Details

Chicken Breed:

These chickens are a two to five generational mix of several heritage breeds including Araucanas, Kraienkoppes, Golden Sex Link, Black Sex Link, Dorking, Barred Rock, Sussex, Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Astralorp, Wyandottes, Java, Brahma. All of these are intermixed, you can not choose a breed, the qualities of these breeds are mixed in different proportions in each chicken. These are mostly egg laying breeds but will produce roosters and hens of 3 to 5 lbs each if raised for meat.

Timing:

It takes 21 days to hatch a set of chicks, give or take a day. You can pick them up 1 to 3 days after hatching.

The chicks need special feed and heat for 2 to 3 months.

They are ready to lay eggs at about 6 months

They are ready to use as meat at about 6 to 9 months

They lay for 3 to 5 years, each set of 4 hens laying 3 eggs per day. winter laying is possible with lighting.

Sexing:

We offer only straight run, meaning no sexing done. Expect half your chicks to turn out to be roosters, half hens. You can raise the roosters for meat, sell them to others, or return them to our farm (we do not buy them back but will accept them as donations). Sometimes you can tell sex by 3 months, but often not for 6 months.

Cost:

The total price is $7 per chick hatched.

Special discounts available for orders over 2 dozen.

To reserve your spot in the incubators email or call today!

hatching@littlesproutsfarm.com

541-826-4345

Here are some shots of the last flock of chicks hatched, taken at frenzied feeding time! These will give you a feel for the variety available in these cross breed chickens.